Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Mentioning that night she got drunk, Leda touched her nose with a hint of embarrassment.

"It was all my mom's fault, insisting I attend this so-called youth mixer. It was basically a speed dating dinner in disguise."

The young men and women were like items on display, laid out for selection.

Nola was great in every way, except for being a bit of a worrywart.

Going on about how 'unequal matches never work out' and 'love can't survive on empty pockets,' blah blah blah...

Leda was over it.

After the last visit home, she laid down the law with Nola: she could consider matches of similar social standing, but the final choice was hers to make.

In return, Nola had to swear off arranging any more blind dates or mixers behind her back.

Roseanne: "Choose for yourself?"

"Yeah, as long as the guy's family isn't broke, my mom's cool with it. Easy, I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Roseanne blinked.

had a thing for "younger charmers," but to find one among these men who would

pride. We're all from influential families; why should I, a grown man, lower

have to choose, or I can't face my mom. But I'm not picking a

in our circle being pushed into marriage. Since none of us

public, pretend we're together, and then do

their backs without the constant nagging, while still enjoying their freedom on the side. A win-win. Roseanne still urged her to think it through, not to get carried

worry, I know what I'm

when Leda went to the restroom

out, Leda pouted, "I said it

"I can't let you foot the bill every

"Right, my little heiress."

out to pinch Roseanne's

pinch, it hurts. Keep your hands to yourself

way through the

Reynolds, a

them both halt and instinctively look in

of gray, neady all dressed in polo shirts with chinos-a scholarly vibe all

man at the center of attention

a stark contrast to the surrounding crowd